6th Battalion, Alexandra Princess of Wales’ Own ( Yorkshire Regiment)
Lionel Barnett was born in Cheltenham in the second quarter of 1892. He was the third eldest son of Henry Frederick (a fishmonger) and Mrs Sarah Barnett, who lived at 8 Oriel Place, Cheltenham.
Before the war he worked for Thomas Plant, Outfitters, 18 The Colonnade, Cheltenham and was a keen golfer and member of Cotswold Hills Golf Club, which he frequently represented in competitions. He had served as a Sergeant in the 5th (Territorial) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (number 2986) and was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the 11th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment on 5 February 1915. His Medal Index Card notes that he had not served overseas whilst in the ranks.
As the 6th Yorks landed at Suvla Bay on 6 August 1915, it is possible that he saw service at Gallipoli and thereafter in Egypt, where the battalion spent time from 7 February 1916, prior to transferring to France on 1 July 1916. However, records show he married in Cheltenham in July 1915 and he may not have joined the battalion on active service until after the Suvla landing.
By February 1917 Lionel was based in the UK as an instructor and he died of wounds on 6 February 1917, as a result of a premature explosion of a bomb, thrown by a member of a class under his instruction at Prees Heath Camp, Whitchurch, Shropshire; he was 24 years old. The camp was a trench warfare instruction centre.
He left a widow, Mabel E Barnett (née Bailey), whose brother Second Lieutenant Donald William Bailey, was killed in action at Ypres in 1917. According to the Probate Register his address at time of death was 8 Oriel Place, although that may have been that of his parents. The CWGC Register shows his widow living at Mill House, Lower Alstone, Cheltenham.
Lionel was buried in Cheltenham Borough Cemetery, with a tall marble cross marking his grave. He is commemorated on the Cheltenham Borough Memorial, and memorials at St Luke’s Church (St Luke’s Road), Bishop’s Cleeve and Southam Village.
A golfing trophy, The Barnett Memorial Cup, is still competed annually, around the anniversary of his death, at Cotswold Hills Golf Club.
Researched by Graham Adams 7 February 2012
(The bulk of the research was taken from ‘Leaving all that was dear – Cheltenham in the Great War’ by Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker)